By Matt Dawson
It’s that time of the year to get ready to do a little prowling around on the lake late in the day. As water temperatures warm and water skiers abound on your favourite lake, relax with family and friends during the day and get ready for a little night time fishing action after everybody exits stage left.
The ideal situation is to have your boat tied to the dock ready to go on a body of water you are familiar with. If you have done a little scouting out during the day or in the previous week, it will give you a starting point in your search for the nighttime bite. If the walleye are hunkered down on the primary or secondary drop-off during the day, as that sun settles in the west, these same fish will move shallow as the light conditions change, looking for an easy meal.
Surprisingly enough there are a lot of species in this part of the world that are more active at night in summer. If you want to catch a monster channel catfish in the summer, nighttime is the right time. You also don’t need a boat, because the shore angler will be just as successful.
Believe it or not, but big lake trout will cruise at night, looking for an easy meal. Night fishing can be a tremendous experience if done safely. I recommend if you haven’t done any before, trying it out on a body of water you are familiar with. You don’t want to be out in the middle of the night on a lake you have never fished before or travelled on.
Also for night fishing you don’t need a boat. Shore line anglers and those with waders can have better luck than those from a boat especially if they are quiet.
